Cardinals Rebound With Three-Set Win Over NKU

Saturday, February 21

Highland Heights, KY

5 pm

Ball State University

13-2,5-1MIVA

Northern Kentucky

3-8,0-4MIVA

Ball St.

Northern Ky.

Photo by: Brayden Goins / Ball State Athletics

February 21, 2026 | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The eighth-ranked Ball State men's volleyball program evened its road series Saturday evening, completing a straight-set win (25-21, 25-18, 25-22) over Northern Kentucky inside the Regents Hall. Ball State captures its eighth sweep of the season and earns its fifth conference victory of 2026.

The Cardinals (13-2, 5-1 MIVA) offense captured a total of 35 kills in the contest, led by senior outside Patrick Rogers who recorded eight on .267 hitting, including five in just the first set. Rogers also paced Ball State at the net for the second time this season, tallying four blocks.

Junior opposite Marty Canavan nearly tripled his career kill total against the Norse (3-8, 0-4 MIVA), contributing seven on a .600 clip in his first match playing three sets. Canavan scored four of his total in the second set, leading Ball State to a .647 hitting percentage.

Freshmen Tyler Windt and Dante Cayaban made statements in the most action they've seen with the Cardinals. Windt made his first career start against NKU, totaling four kills along with an ace and a solo block. Windt also led the unit in digs with three. Cayaban added three kills with two blocks, stamping the final kill in set three to complete the sweep over the Norse.

Ball State served eight aces in total against Northern Kentucky, with Canavan, Will Patterson and Griffin Satterfield each being credited with a pair. Patterson earned both of his aces back-to-back at the end of a solo three-point run for the Cardinals in set two. Rogers and Lucas Machado also recorded an ace.

Setters Satterfield and Machado shared control of the floor as Satterfield recorded a match-high 19, followed by Machado who had 10.

The Ball State men's volleyball team returns to Muncie for its final non-conference matchup versus Tusculum for IHSAA Day on Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. The squad then hosts in-state and conference foe Purdue Fort Wayne for Alumni Night on Feb. 27 at 7p.m. Action versus PFW will be streamed on ESPN+.